Home Secretary launches new drug strategy at Blenheim’s Harbour building in Lambeth

The Secretary of State met staff and service users at the centre, and witnessed some of the excellent one to one support that is on offer, getting to know what we do and the positive impact we have on the local community.

With figures at a record high, Blenheim welcomes a strategy which commits to tackling drug-related deaths and places emphasis on harm reduction and evidence-based treatment options. Our main concern remains whether there is sufficient funding to implement the strategy, following cuts to services across London.

We believe in and fully support a focus on both harm reduction and Recovery Capital as successful and important parts of treatment, and would also like to emphasise the importance of a separate strategy to tackle alcohol addiction, which is an equally important and distinct issue.

Dawn Brecken, manager at the Harbour, said:

“It was great to show the Home Secretary around the service and talk about how we work with service users to improve their lives. We support people on a daily basis, with often complex needs, to build their recovery capital and be part of their local communities again.”

“We welcome the long-awaited Drug Strategy, for which we have been pressing this last year. We trust that the required resources will also be forthcoming, to make the objectives outlined in the Strategy a reality.”

John Jolly, Chief Executive of Blenheim, said:

“I welcome the Drugs Strategy and its renewed focus on reducing drug related deaths, however it will not have an impact unless Local Authorities are provided with adequate and ring-fenced resources to deliver it.”

Where do you live?

Blenheim currently provides services across 11 London boroughs. If we don’t have services in your area, there’s lots more help available. Find out where else you can get help with drug and alcohol issues.